Discover the latest changes in AI-driven search, user behavior, and traffic shifts in the August 2025 State of Search and AI update from the GPO team.
If your business info is wrong in Google, use this guide to fix it and get tips for preventing issues down the line. Turn to GPO for expert listings management.
You’re not alone if you’ve ever searched for your business online and realized the hours on your Google Business Profile (GBP) are off, the address is wrong, or you don’t even recognize the phone number anymore. It happens more often than you’d think to brands of all sizes and across all industries.
The good news? You can fix it. In fact, you can take control of your business info across the web with just a few key steps.
But first, let’s talk about why accurate GBP info matters and how things might have gone sideways in the first place.
When your online business info is wrong, it doesn’t just look unprofessional—it leads to real consequences. Searchers looking at your listings are likely high-intent customers who are ready to convert. That means they’re looking for that name, address, and phone number (NAP) to take action. If it’s wrong, they may show up at the wrong location, call the wrong number, or assume you’re closed. The result? Lost opportunities and angry would-have-been customers.
And, usually, the problem doesn’t stop at GBP. Errors can spread across platforms before you even realize there’s a problem.
We’ve worked with businesses that didn’t know how bad things had gotten until they started losing leads. But with proper listings management, we were able to clean up the confusion and help them get back on track.
What many business owners don’t realize is that your online listings are never static. Platforms like Google constantly pull and compare information from across the web. That means:
Even something small—like an old post with your former address—can throw things out of sync. And once a platform like Google or Bing picks up incorrect info, it can quickly spread to other directories or search results.
That’s why it’s so important to not only fix the issue, but also understand where the errors came from and how to prevent them going forward.
From adjusting your profile to preventing issues down the line, here’s how to fix inaccurate GBP information and prevent issues from arising again.
Important: If you haven’t claimed your profile yet, claim it and verify it first. Until you do, you won’t have full control over what shows up.
If you have claimed your profile, start by logging into your Google Business Profile. From there, you can optimize your profiles and edit your:
Double-check that the information is correct across all areas. Once you save your changes, Google may update the listing immediately, or it might take some time to verify.
You may also see a note that your edits are “being reviewed.” That’s normal and not a cause for alarm bells!
If you manage a large or multi-location business (or if you’ve dealt with frequent unwanted edits), you may be able to request a lock on your listing through a Google support request or partner provider.
While this isn’t available to everyone, it can help prevent your info from being changed by third-party sources or user-suggested edits.
Even with a locked listing, Google may still crawl the web for updates. So while it adds protection, it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Regular monitoring is still key!
Now it’s time to figure out where the issue could be stemming from. Google doesn’t just rely on what you submit. It also crawls your website, and if it finds a different business name, address, or phone number (a.k.a. your NAP), it might pull that instead.
Make sure the NAP on your:
…matches your Google listing exactly. Even tiny differences like “Ste.” vs. “Suite” or a missing ZIP code can create inconsistencies.
Here’s where it gets tricky: Google also pulls info from third-party sites. That includes social media platforms (like Facebook and Instagram) and online directories (like Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places, and others). And yes, even old posts or outdated bios can confuse Google.
Take the time to:
If the information doesn’t match what’s in your Google profile, update it.
Consistency is key. Google’s algorithm wants to see a clear, unified story about your business across the internet. If your NAP is even slightly different in one place, it can undermine your search visibility and confuse customers.
That includes:
And don’t forget that Google sometimes reverts listings based on what it finds elsewhere. One wrong address in a social post or outdated hours on a directory site can undo your hard work!
Once you’ve cleaned up your business info, the work doesn’t stop there. Listings can be edited by customers, suggested by strangers, or auto-updated by bots. That’s why it’s important to regularly:
Or better yet, consider handing it off to a team that can manage it for you.
Wrong address? Outdated hours? A mislinked phone number? Inaccurate listings can cost you customers, and they can even spiral across platforms before you notice.
At GPO, we’ve helped businesses clean up bad data and regain control of their online presence. Our listings management services ensure your business info is accurate, consistent, and optimized across every platform that matters. Get in touch today to learn how we can help.
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